They Had Names

African Americans in Early Records of Liberty County, Georgia

Liberty County Will – Thomas Shepard


Will Summary (published 1964)

Thomas Shepard of Liberty County, planter. Last Will and Testament dated November 24, 1792; no date of probate shown in record. Devises to wife; to son Francis Shepard and his other children (unnamed). Executors: Son, Francis Sheppard; and friends William Baker, Sr., Thomas Stevens, Sr., Joseph Quarterman. Witnesses: Elijah Lewis, George Law, Samuel Bacon.

Slave names left out of the original summary:

“I give the use & labour of the following slaves to my beloved wife during her natural life, Viz., Peter, Primos, Silvia, Phebe & Yellow Rose but after the death of my wife they are to return to & be considered as a part of my estate.”

To son Francis: “…three other slaves, Viz., Cuffy [alt. Cuffee], Abram, & ? Gritta ? to him & his heirs forever.” Gave his remaining slaves [unnamed] equally among his other children.

Find the original (complete) will online at:

Ancestry.com:

https://www.ancestry.com/interactive/8635/005759431_00001?backurl=https%3a%2f%2fsearch.ancestry.com%2fsearch%2fdb.aspx%3fdbid%3d8635%26path%3d&ssrc=&backlabel=ReturnBrowsing#?imageId=005759431_00045

FamilySearch.org:

“Georgia Probate Records, 1742-1990,” images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QSQ-G93L-P9LP?cc=1999178&wc=9SYT-PT5%3A267679901%2C268032901 : 20 May 2014), Liberty > Wills, appraisements and bonds 1790-1850 vol B > image 45 of 689; county probate courthouses, Georgia.

1964 Summaries From: “Georgia Court-House Records – Liberty County,” 1964 quarterly issues of The Georgia Genealogical Magazine, Folks Huxford, Editor. Published Under the Auspices of The Wiregrass Georgia Chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution.